Pipestone Flyer
A number of residents appeared at the Leduc City Council Meeting on Monday, June 23rd and went away feeling their concerns about a proposed Health Wellness Centre in their area had gone unresolved.
They were responding to the request by Ray Ann Holdings to change the redistricting of their property on 4610 – 48A Street from RSD to DC. This would allow them to build a therapeutic massage and mental health counseling business.
Residents, both in person and by mail, voiced three major concerns revolving around parking concerns, safety of students from increase traffic flow, and the eroding of the neighbourhood.
Currently there are problems with parking as the area has seen an increase in the development of duplexes and condos.
At times residents have had difficulty either finding adequate parking or are blocked from entering their own property due to cars blocking their way. They believed the addition of a Health Wellness Centre would only add to the parking problem.
A second issue of concern was how an increase in traffic flow would affect the safety of young people who move about the area attending Leduc Junior High School, the Boy Scouts Hall, the public library, and Alex Arena.
Several long-term residents were also concerned this was an erosion of the residential aspect of the area that was the major draw for them when they moved into the area many years ago.
One of the area’s residents, Brenda Eckert, wrote a letter to register opposition to the Bylaw and wondered why this proposal was proceeding after a majority of residents had responded to a survey indicating their opposition to the proposed business plan.
Council members asked a number of questions to both the City administration and the property owners for clarification and provided concern residents additional opportunities to express their disappointment after the Council had passed both 2nd and 3rd reading of the Bylaw.
The Bylaw affects the area along 48A Street between 47 Avenue and Black Gold Drive, which is predominately residential. Recently, the area has seen transitions from single detached residential homes to increased density residential. The subject site is located adjacent to a condominium apartment building and the Scouts Hall. It backs on to a rear lane adjacent to the new library and Alexandra Park and St David’s is located across 48A Street.